DE102023120124A1 - agricultural work machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an agricultural work machine (1), in particular a forage harvester (2), with a cabin (3) and a wiper system (17) for cleaning a plurality of windows (12, 13, 16) of the cabin (3), comprising a plurality of windshield wipers (18, 19, 20) and a control device (22) which is provided and set up to control the wiper system (17) with different windshield wiping states (27, 30, 32, 33), and an input unit (7) for setting at least one parameter of at least one of the windshield wiper states (27, 30, 32, 33), wherein at least in a first windshield wiper state (27) a parameter is a position to be approached by at least one of the windshield wipers (18, 19, 20).

Description

The invention relates to an agricultural working machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

An agricultural machine can be designed as a combine harvester, forage harvester or tractor, for example. These include a cabin from which an operator drives the machine. It is well known from the prior art that the cabin has a wiper system for cleaning the windows when it rains and/or becomes dirty.

For example, the EP 4 122 738 A1 A combine harvester with a cabin and a wiper system has become known. The combine harvester has an input unit in the cabin designed as a display, which is set up to activate or deactivate the wiper system. The speed of the windshield wipers can also be set using the input unit.

When working in the field, the large number of working units on agricultural machines demand the operator's attention. At the same time, the cabin has a number of windshield wipers that are assigned to the side windows, the rear window and the front window. A wiping movement of the windshield wipers can be particularly disruptive when monitoring the working units. In addition, the windshield wipers can have a negative impact on the field of vision of a working unit that is to be monitored.

It is therefore an object of the invention to avoid the described disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to provide a wiper system which enables a more comfortable guidance of an agricultural working machine.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the characterizing features of claim 1.

According to claim 1, an agricultural work machine is proposed, in particular a forage harvester, with a cabin and a wiper system for cleaning several windows of the cabin, wherein the wiper system comprises a plurality of windshield wipers and a control device which is provided and set up to control the wiper system with different windshield wiping states, further comprising an input unit for setting at least one parameter of at least one of the windshield wiper states, wherein at least in a first windshield wiper state a parameter is a position to be approached by at least one of the windshield wipers.

The invention has many advantages. Because the position in which a windshield wiper is located or which the windshield wiper moves to is an adjustable parameter, the operator is able to prevent one of the windshield wipers from moving to disruptive positions. This significantly increases the comfort when operating the work machine. Furthermore, a windshield wiper position in the field of vision of work elements to be monitored can be avoided.

It is particularly advantageous if the first windshield wiper state is a rest state of at least one windshield wiper and the position to be approached is a parking position. In the rest state, the windshield wipers remain in the parking position. It is therefore particularly advantageous if the operator can set the parking position so that the windshield wipers in the parking position are not in the field of vision of the operator or a work unit to be monitored.

An advantageous development provides that a second windshield wiper state is a wiping operation of at least one windshield wiper, wherein the control device controls the wiper system in such a way that at least one windshield wiper oscillates between two end positions, wherein the positions of the end positions form adjustable parameters on the input unit. According to this development, a wiping area of the windshield wiper can be adjusted as required in order to specifically wipe an area that is relevant for monitoring the work machine.

A further advantageous development provides that a third windshield wiper state is an interval wiping operation of at least one windshield wiper and an adjustable parameter is an interval length, wherein the interval length is preferably the duration of a break between a wiping cycle.

In a particularly preferred manner, the control device can be provided and set up to control at least one second windshield wiper in an interval wiping mode, wherein the control device is set up such that the at least two windshield wipers controlled in the interval wiping mode are operated synchronously. Synchronous control of the windshield wipers causes them to reach and leave their end positions at the same time. Such synchronous operation is perceived as less disruptive by an operator of the work machine.

An advantageous embodiment provides that the cabin comprises a front window with a front window wiper, a rear window with a rear window wiper and two side windows arranged opposite one another, each with a side window wiper, wherein in a fourth window wiper state the control device controls the wiper system in such a way that at least the side window wipers are activated and/or deactivated depending on an operating state of a working element, wherein the working element is preferably a transfer device of the working machine and the side window wipers are activated or deactivated depending on a position of the transfer device. As a result, only one windshield wiper is automatically activated to clean a window located in the operator's field of vision of the working element. The other windshield wipers remain deactivated and therefore do not generate any noise generated by the wiping movement.

A further advantageous embodiment provides that the cabin comprises a door, wherein the control device is designed such that it deactivates at least one windshield wiper, preferably all windshield wipers, when the door is opened.

• 1 eine schematische und exemplarische Frontansicht einer selbstfahrenden landwirtschaftlichen Arbeitsmaschine in Gestalt eines Feldhäckslers;
• 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Kabine einer landwirtschaftlichen Arbeitsmaschine;
• 3 eine schematisch dargestellte Steuereinheit mit einer Eingabeeinheit und Bedienelementen zum Ansteuern der Wischeranlage einer landwirtschaftlichen Arbeitsmaschine.

Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of further subclaims and are described below using an embodiment shown in several figures. They show:

• 1 a schematic and exemplary front view of a self-propelled agricultural working machine in the form of a forage harvester;
• 2 a perspective view of a cabin of an agricultural working machine;
• 3 a schematically illustrated control unit with an input unit and operating elements for controlling the wiper system of an agricultural machine.

1 shows a schematic and exemplary representation of an agricultural working machine 1 in the form of a forage harvester 2, the basic structure of which is known. The agricultural working machine 1 accordingly comprises a plurality of working units which serve to drive the agricultural working machine 1, to harvest crops grown on an agricultural area and to process the harvested crops. For controlling and generally monitoring the operation of the agricultural working machine 1, the latter comprises a cabin 3 according to the invention in which an operator - not shown in the FIGS. - can sit on a driver's seat 4. In addition to the driver's seat 4, the cabin 3 also comprises a steering column 5 with a steering wheel 6 for controlling the agricultural working machine 1 and an input unit 7 by means of which the operator can make inputs, in particular those relating to the operation of the agricultural working machine 1. The cabin 3 also comprises a support structure 8, of which in 1 a roof 9 and two support columns 10, 11, so-called A-pillars of the support structure 8. Between the support columns 10, 11, a front window 12 extends in the transverse direction of the agricultural harvesting machine 1, which forms a front spatial closure of the cabin 3. In addition to the front window 12, the cabin 1 comprises on each of its sides a - in 2 shown - side window 13, wherein the side windows 13 extend between a respective support pillar 10, 11 and an associated rear support pillar 14, 15, a so-called B-pillar of the support structure 8, as well as a rear window 16, wherein the rear window 16 extends between the rear support pillars 14, 15.

The cabin 3 further comprises a wiper system 17 for cleaning the windows 12, 13, 16 of the cabin 3. As in the 2 As can be seen, the wiper system 17 comprises several windshield wipers 18, 19, 20, whereby a front windshield wiper 18 is assigned to the front windshield 12, a rear windshield wiper 20 to the rear windshield 16 and a side windshield wiper 19 is assigned to each side window 13. In 2 the right side window wiper 19 and the rear window wiper 20 viewed in the forward direction of the work machine 1 are concealed by the supporting structure 8 of the cabin 3.

In 3 the input unit 7 arranged in the cabin 3 is shown. The input unit 7 here and preferably comprises a touch display. A control device 22 is provided and set up to control the wiper system 17. The control device 22 can activate or deactivate a drive unit 23 assigned to the respective windshield wipers 18, 19, 20, wherein in the activated state of a drive unit 23, a windshield wiper 18, 19, 20 assigned to the activated drive unit 23 performs a pivoting movement between two end positions 24, 25 and sweeps over a wiping area 26 to clean the respective window 12, 13 16. The control device 22 is provided and set up to control the windshield wipers 18, 19, 20 with different windshield wiper states 27, 30, 32, 33 in a manner to be explained in more detail.

A first windshield wiper state 27 is, for example, a rest state, wherein the respective windshield wiper 18, 19, 20 in the rest state is in its parking position 28, or is moved into the parking position 28. The parking position 28, in which the respective windshield wiper 18, 19, 20 remains in the deactivated state, can be set in the input unit 7 according to the invention. 3 shows this as an example for the rear window wiper 20. A menu for setting the parking position 28 is stored in the input unit 7. When this menu is called up, for example, a 3 View 29 circled in dashed lines is displayed for setting the parking position 28. In this view 29, the operator can move the windshield wiper 20 within a swivel range that can be reached by the windshield wiper 20, preferably by touching the input unit 7 designed as a touch display, and thus set the parking position 28 to be approached when the windshield wiper 20 is in the resting state.

A second windshield wiper state 30 is a wiping operation of at least one windshield wiper 18, 19, 20. Preferably, each of the windshield wipers 18, 19, 20 can be operated in wiping operation. In wiping operation, the control device 22 controls the wiper system 17 such that the at least one windshield wiper 18, 19, 20 in wiping operation oscillates between two end positions 24, 25. The area located between the end positions 24, 25 and swept over by the windshield wiper 18, 19, 20 forms the wiping area 26. The input unit 7 is provided and set up for setting the wiping area 26 of at least one windshield wiper 18, 19, 20, preferably the side window wiper 19, more preferably the rear window wiper 20. Furthermore, it may also be preferred if a wiping area 26 of the windscreen wiper 18 is adjustable. A menu for setting the wiping area 26 is stored in the input unit 7. When this menu is called up, for example, a 3 The dashed circled view 31 for setting the wiping area 26 is displayed. 3 The view 31 shown in dashed lines is an example for setting a wiping area 26 of the rear window wiper 20. In this view 31, the operator can move the position of the end areas 24, 25 for setting the wiping area 26 within a pivoting range reachable by the windshield wiper 20, preferably by touching the input unit 7 designed as a touch display.

A third windshield wiper state 32 is an interval wiping operation of at least one windshield wiper 18, 19, 20. Particularly preferably, at least the side window wipers 19 and the rear window wiper 20 can be operated in interval wiping operation. A windshield wiper 18, 19, 20 in interval operation is controlled by the control device 22 in such a way that it carries out a wiping cycle and pauses at a standstill after each wiping cycle, the duration of the pause forming an adjustable parameter. In this case, a wiping cycle is to be understood as a pivoting movement of a windshield wiper 18, 19, 20 from an end position 25 to the opposite end position 24 and back again. The input unit 7 is provided and set up to set the interval length, which corresponds to a duration of the pause. For this purpose, a menu (not shown in detail in the figures) can be called up in the input unit 7, in which a duration of time can be selected or entered.

In addition to the input unit 7, the cabin 3 comprises several operating elements 21, which are designed as buttons. At least one windshield wiper state 27, 30, 32 can be activated or deactivated using the operating elements 21. It is particularly preferred if the interval wiping function or the third windshield wiper state 23 of the side window wipers 19 and the rear window wiper 20 can each be activated and/or deactivated using an operating element 21. In this case, it can be provided that a first interval operation is activated when the respective operating element 21 is actuated once and a second interval operation is activated when the respective operating element 21 is actuated again, with the first and second interval operations differing in the duration of the pause.

Here and preferably, the control device 22 is provided and set up for simultaneously controlling at least two, preferably three windshield wipers 19, 20 in the third windshield wiper state 32, which preferably involves the side window wipers 19 and the rear window wiper 20. Here, the control device 22 controls all windshield wipers 19, 20 in the third windshield wiper state 32 synchronously, so that they reach and leave their respective end positions 24, 25 at the same time.

Furthermore, a fourth windshield wiper state 33 is stored in the control device 22. In the fourth windshield wiper state 33, the control device 22 controls the wiper system 17 in such a way that the side window wipers 19 and preferably also the rear window wiper 20 are actuated depending on an operating state of a working element. The operating state can include the orientation or position of the working element. The working element can preferably be a transfer device, known per se and not shown in more detail here, of an agricultural working machine 1 designed as a forage harvester 2. Such transfer devices are provided and set up for transferring the harvested crop picked up and processed by the forage harvester 2 onto a transfer vehicle. During loading, the loading vehicle can, for example, be located on the right or left side next to the forage harvester 2 or at the rear behind the forage harvester 2, with the loading device being aligned according to the position of the loading vehicle. In the fourth windshield wiper state 33, the control device 22 is provided and configured to automatically activate one of the windshield wipers 19, 20 depending on the position or alignment of the loading device in order to wipe a window 13, 16 located in the operator's field of vision of the loading device. Furthermore, when the position of the loading device changes, the control device 22 can automatically deactivate a windshield wiper 19, 20 that is assigned to a window 13, 16 if the window 13, 16 is no longer in the operator's field of vision of the loading device as a result of the position change. To activate the fourth windshield wiper state 33, a control element 21 designed as a button is arranged in the cabin 3.

Furthermore, one of the side windows 13 can be arranged in a door 34 for entering the cabin 3. The door 34 is in 3 merely indicated by the arrow with the reference number 34 and not shown in more detail. The control device 22 is set up in such a way that it automatically deactivates at least the door-side side window wiper 19 when the door 34 is opened. Furthermore, all of the window wipers 18, 19, 20 can also be automatically deactivated when the door 34 is opened.

List of reference symbols:

1

agricultural work machine

2

forage harvester

3

cabin

4

driver's seat

5

steering column

6

steering wheel

7

input unit

8

supporting structure

9

Roof

10

support column

11

support column

12

windshield

13

side window

14

support column

15

support column

16

rear window

17

wiper system

18

windshield wipers

19

side window wipers

20

rear window wiper

21

control element

22

control device

23

drive unit

24

end position

25

end position

26

wiping area

27

First windshield wiper state

28

parking position

29

Opinion

30

Second windshield wiper state

31

Opinion

32

Third windshield wiper state

33

Fourth windshield wiper state

34

door

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 4 122 738 A1 [0003]

Claims (7)

Agricultural work machine (1), in particular a forage harvester (2), with a cabin (3) and a wiper system (17) for cleaning a plurality of windows (12, 13, 16) of the cabin (3), comprising a plurality of windshield wipers (18, 19, 20) and a control device (22) which is provided and set up to control the wiper system (17) with different windshield wiping states (27, 30, 32, 33), and an input unit (7) for setting at least one parameter of at least one of the windshield wiper states (27, 30, 32, 33), characterized in that at least in a first windshield wiper state (27) a parameter is a position to be approached by at least one of the windshield wipers (18, 19, 20). Agricultural work machine (1) after claim 1 , characterized in that the first windscreen wiper state (27) is a rest state of the at least one windscreen wiper (18, 19, 20) and the position to be approached is a parking position (28). Agricultural working machine (1) according to one of the Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that a second windscreen wiper state (30) is a wiping operation of at least one windscreen wiper (18, 19, 20), wherein the control device (22) controls the wiper system (17) such that at least one windscreen wiper (18, 19, 20) oscillates between two end positions (24, 25), wherein the positions of the end positions (24, 25) form adjustable parameters in the input unit (7). Agricultural working machine (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that a third windscreen wiper state (32) is an interval wiping operation of at least one windscreen wiper (18, 19, 20) and an adjustable parameter is an interval length, wherein preferably the interval length is the duration of a pause between a wiping cycle. Agricultural work machine (1) after claim 4 , characterized in that the control device (22) is provided and arranged to control at least one second windscreen wiper (18, 19, 20) in an interval wiping mode, wherein the control device (22) controls the wiper system (17) such that the at least two windscreen wipers (18, 19, 20) controlled in the interval wiping mode are operated synchronously. Agricultural working machine (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the cabin (3) comprises a front window (12) with a front window wiper (18), a rear window (16) with a rear window wiper (20) and two side windows (13) arranged opposite one another, each with a side window wiper (19), wherein in a fourth window wiper state (33) the control device (22) controls the wiper system (17) such that at least the side window wipers (19) are activated and/or deactivated depending on an operating state of a working element, wherein preferably the working element is a transfer device of the working machine (1) and the side window wipers (19) are activated or deactivated depending on a position of the transfer device. Agricultural working machine (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the cabin (3) comprises a door (34), wherein the control device (22) is arranged such that it deactivates at least one windscreen wiper (18, 19, 20), preferably all windscreen wipers (18, 19, 20) when the door (34) is opened.

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